THE
PEOPLE'S MILLENNIUM FORESTS : ABOUT
Trees and woodlands form an important part of Ireland's
rich natural, historical and cultural heritage, which stretches
back to Celtic times and far beyond. We need look no further than
Irish people and place names, many of which are derived from the
Irish word for different types of trees, to realise just how much
they are part of our everyday life.
Planting
new forests, particularly forests which emulate Ireland's natural
woodland cover, helps us rediscover our 'tree culture', which
almost disappeared with the exploitation and clearance of Ireland's
woodlands down through the centuries.
TREES
IN HISTORY AND CULTURE
Trees were very important to the survival and daily lives of people
long ago. They provided food, firewood for heat and cooking, wood
for spears and fish traps, dye for cloth and poles for fencing
and building dwellings.
People
valued trees and laid down rules to protect them. Under the ancient
Brehon Laws trees were divided into four groups in order of importance
and usefulness. Even heather, gorse, bracken and brambles were
protected. If you damaged or cut a tree or branch without permission,
you would be punished severely.
Later,
tree names were associated with letters in Ogham, the first Irish
writing, and as a memory aid when teaching the Roman alphabet,
when the first letter of the tree's name stood for an alphabet
letter, for example, Sail (willow) for S.
In
very early times, trees were associated with religion and the
gods. It was believed that Nine Hazels of Wisdom grew at the source
of the river Boyne. Five magical trees were believed to protect
Ireland; three ash, an oak and a yew. Sacred trees guarded important
tribal sites or wells. Christians adapted these old beliefs and
trees were sometimes linked with saints.
Old
beliefs about trees survived in folklore. St. Patrick was said
to have banished the snakes with an ash stick. Trees beside holy
wells were often decorated with rags or other offerings. Rowan
was once thought to frighten off witches and bring good luck.
The
rules to protect trees survived in some beliefs, for example,
that cutting down a hawthorn brought bad luck because the fairies
used it.
The
names of trees are seen in placenames all around the country.
Derry and Kildare are called after Dair, the word for oak; Glenbeigh
in Kerry is named after Beith, the word for birch; Drumkeeran
in Leitrim is named after the Caorthann or rowan tree. If you
know a boy or man called Dara, he is named after the oak tree
also.
